Body attached stilts with vertically adjustable steps

ABSTRACT

A pair of stilts each consisting of a standard having a gripping device movable vertically thereon but capable of gripping said standard to prevent movement thereof, and a step or foot rest carried by said gripping device, said gripping device being operable by a load imposed on said step by the user&#39;&#39;s weight to grip said standard, and being operable by a somewhat unnatural movement of the user&#39;&#39;s foot on the step to release its grip on the standard, whereby the elevation of the step on the standard may be changed at will during usage. In order to allow free use of a user&#39;&#39;s hands while maintaining balance a flexible waist belt is pivotally secured to a pair of small retainer loops which are freely slidable along the standards.

Ellis July 4, 1972 BODY ATTACHED STILTS WITH VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE STEPS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 377,449 6/1923 Germany ..272/70.1 134,242 11/1919 GreatBritain ..272/70.2

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Ronald L. Frinks Att0rneyJohn A. Hamilton [57] ABSTRACT A pair of stilts each consisting of a standard having a gripping device movable vertically thereon but capable of gripping said standard to prevent movement thereof, and a step or foot rest carried by said gripping device, said gripping device being operable by a load imposed on said step by the user's weight to grip said standard, and being operable by a somewhat unnatural movement of the users foot on the step to release its grip on the standard, whereby the elevation 01' the step on the standard may be changed at will during usage. In order to allow free use of a users hands while maintaining balance a flexible waist belt is pivotally secured to a pair of small retainer loops which are freely slidable along the standards.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BODY ATTACHED STILTS WITH VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE STEPS This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stilts and has as its principal object the provision of a pair of stilts the elevation of the steps of which above the ground can be changed at will during actual use. That is the user may increase or decrease the effective height of the stilts as he chooses while actually walking on them without the usual necessity of demounting and manually adjusting the position of the steps on the standards. It is adapted for use either as a workmans tool, in that he can thereby gain access to jobs at various elevations above the ground, without the usual lad- 'ders, scaffolds, or other stationary supports, or as a toy. In the latter usage, the adjustability of the stilt height gives rein to exercise of considerable skill and imagination which greatly enhance the attractiveness of stilts as toys.

Another object is the provision of stilts of the character described wherein the elevation of the steps may be adjusted entirely without use of the hands, the entirely by selective movements of the feet. This leaves the hands free to grip the standards as is most commonly done, or for other uses.

A still further object is the provision of stilts of the character described having means whereby the user's hands need not be used even to hold or grip the standards. This feature together with foot operation of the step adjusting means, leaves the users hands completely free, this arrangement of course being particularly useful for workmen, who must carry equipment or tools, or perform other operations, with their hands.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and efficiency and dependability of operation.

Generally, these objects are accomplished by the provision of a pair of stilts each including a normally vertical standard having mounted thereon a gripping device capable either of being tightened thereon to resist its movement along said standard, or released to slide freely on said standard, a foot rest or step carried by said gripping device on which the user supports his weight, means operable by the imposition of the users weight on said step to cause said gripping device to grip said standard positively, means operable by a somewhat unnatural movement of the users foot to release the grip of said gripping device on said standard, means operable to maintain said gripping device in gripping engagement with said standard even when the userdoes not support his weight on said step, as long as he moves his foot and leg in a normal walking motion, and keeper members to be worn by the user at his waistline and through which said standards extend for vertical sliding movement.

With these objects in view, as well as other, objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partially broken away and foreshortened, of a pair of stilts embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII OF FIG. I, I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line III-III of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. I, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on lineV-V of FIG. 4.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the standard or staff of each of a pair of stilts constructed according to the present invention. Said standards may be formed of wood, metal or other suitable material, and as shown are square in cross-sectional contour, although this is also optional. Said standards may be of any desired height, and may if desired be provided at their lower ends with planar, rigid, ground-engaging feet 4. The lower surface of each foot may have a covering 6 of rubber or other non-skid material, for added safety.

Mounted on each of standards 2, for movement vertically thereon, is a gripping device indicated generally by the numeral 8. Each of said gripping devices includes a pair of elongated channels I0 and 12 disposed in confronting relation at respectively opposite sides of the standard, channel 10 at the inside of the standard, that is, the side thereof which in normal use will be disposed toward the other stilt, and channel 12 at the outside of the standard. Said channels engage slidably on the standard for movement vertically thereon, but do not contact each other. They are elongated longitudinally of the standard, and each is provided with a liner l4, affixed therein by rivets 16 or the like, of hard rubber, rubber belting material or other suitable material and lying in full area engagement with standard 2, the liners of the two channels engaging respectively opposite sides of the standard. These liners provide powerful frictional engagement with the standard preventing movement of gripper 8 on said standard when they are pressed tightly against the standard, but permit free movement of the gripping device along the standard when their pressure thereagainst is relieved.

Channels 10 and 12 are connected adjacent their upper ends by a pair of links 18 disposed respectively forwardly and rearwardly thereof. Said links are pivoted to channel 10 by coaxial rivets 20, and to channel 12 by coaxial rivets 22, rivets 20 and 22 being parallel. Channels 10 and 12 are connected adjacent their lower ends by a pair of links 24 disposed respectively forwardly and rearwardly thereof, being pivoted to channel 10 by coaxial rivets 26, and to channel 12 by coaxial rivets 28. Pivots 22 and 28 of channel 12 are disposed at a higher elevation than the corresponding pivots 20 and 26 of channel 10, and a plane containing the axes of rivets 20 and 22 is parallel to a plane containing the axes of rivets 26 and 28. A bracket 30 is pivoted on each of upper pivots 20, and is connected by a helical tension spring 32 to a similar bracket 34 pivoted on the corresponding lower rivet 28.

Lower links 24 extend from the gripping device 8 of which they form a part toward the other of the stilts, and are rigidly interconnected by a horizontal cross-piece 36 which forms a step on which the user supports one of his feet. Aflexible strap 38 passes about said cross-piece, and is adapted to have its ends passed around the shoe of the user and secured together above his foot, by any suitable means, such as buckle 40.

The device may also include a flexible belt 42 adapted to be strapped about the waist of the user and secured by buckle 44, and a pair of small retainer loops secured to said belt so as to be disposed respectively at the wearer's opposite sides. Each of the stilt standards 2 passes freely and slidably through the corresponding retainer loop 46, as shown. To prevent any possible bending of the user at his waist, as he uses the stilts, from causing binding of the retainer loops on the standards, each retainer loop is secured to belt 42 by a pin fastener 48 (see FIG. 2) which permits relative swiveling movement, therebetween. A rigid hook member 50 is affixed to the upper end of each standard 2, to prevent any possibility that the associated loop 46 could become disengaged from said standard.

In operation, the user stands in the usual manner on steps 36 of the stilts, one foot on each step, with straps 38 securely fastened about the toe portions of his shoes, with belt 42 secured about his waist and stilt standards 2 extending through retainer loops 46, as shown. Some initial friction between the liners 14 of channels 10 and 12 of each gripping member 8 is always applied by springs 32. As long as this initial friction exists, the user's weight on the step pivots links 24 and 18 to pull channels 10 and 12 tightly against standard 2 to positively prevent any downward slipping of gripper 8 on the standard. The greater the weight supported by the step, i.e., the greater the weight of the user, the tighter gripper 8 will grip the standard.

Furthermore, if as the user walks on the stilts with a normal walking movement of his feet, simply lifting and moving each foot forwardly without lateral tilting, each stilt as it is lifted from the ground will be supported from the users foot by strap 38. This action creates a tendency for the outer ends of links 18 and 24 to pivot downwardly moving channels 10 and I2 farther apart to release their grip on standard 2. If they were allowed at this time actually to release their grip completely, standard 2 would slide downwardly in the gripper,

its lower end remaining on the ground as the user lifted his foot. However, springs 32 tend to retain the gripper in engagement with the standard with a residual gripping force, and such springs must be of sufficient strength that the gripper will support the weight of the standard without slippage when said standard does not engage the ground, and when the gripper itself is supported by strap 38. Thus the user may walk on the stilts in the same manner as on stilts the steps of which are permanently fixed on the standards.

Nevertheless, he may change the elevation of the steps on the standards at will while he is actually standing or walking on the stilts, by lifting his feet alternately, and turning the elevated foot to tilt it.laterally to lift the inner edge of said foot. This is a somewhat unnatural motion, not likely to occur in normal walking but one which is nonetheless easily accomplished. This motion causes step 36 to act as a lever, the outer edge of the users foot, which is closely adjacent pivot 26, acting as a fulcrum, and the tension of strap 38 at the free end of the step exerting an upward pull on the step. In this manner, enough pivotingforce can be exerted on links 24 (and 18) to overcome springs 32 and separate channels and 12 sufficiently to permit standard 2 to slide freely therebetween. The lower end of the standard thus remains on the ground by gravity, and the user can, while keeping his foot laterally tilted as described, move the gripper up or down its associated standard to some degree, whileof course supporting his weight on the other stilt. He then returns his foot to its normal position to allow springs 32 to return the gripper to its operative condition.By performing this operation alternately on first one stilt and thenrthe other, the user can walk up or down the stilts to change his elevation with respect to the ground. Hooks 50 prevent him from climbing so high on the standards that retainer loops 46 would become disengaged from the standards.

The stilts as thus far completely described, including feet 4 and belt 42, are intended primarily as a tool, for example for the use of workmen who must perform operations on the walls of houses or buildings, in which the stilts may be substituted for the more usual ladders or scaffoldings. However, in the use of the stilts as a toy, feet 4 and belt 42 could be dispensed with if desired. Feet 4 permit the user to stand stationary on the stilts, deriving balance from the broad area of said feet, eliminating the necessity of a stilt walkers dance in which he constantly shifts the lower ends of the stilts on the ground to maintain his balance. This dance" which would be necessary without the enlarged feet, would obviously be troublesome to a workman who must direct his attention to another job he is performing. However, eliminating the feet does increase the skill required to use the stilts successfully, and this may be desired in their use as'toys. Belt 42 frees the user's hands completely for other tasks, and thus is of course highly desirable for workmen, but a user employing the stilts as toys could, if desired, use his hands to grip and hold the standards.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. A pair of stilts comprising:

I a. a pair of normally vertical standards,

b. a gripping device carried by each of said standards for vertical movement thereon, said gripping device having an operative condition wherein it firmly grips said standard to resist movement thereof on said standard, and an inoperative condition wherein it may move freely on said standard,

c. a step carried by said gripping device and adapted to support one foot of the user,

cl. means carried by said step for securing the user's foot thereto, whereby he may lift said gripping device and standard by raising his foot,

e. resilient means biasing said gripping device toward its operative condition to cause it to grip said standard with sufficient force to prevent movement of said standard therethrough when said standard is raised above th 1 ground,

f. activating means operable by the user's weight on said step to place said gripping device in its operative conditron,

g. de-activating means operable by a predetermined movement of the user's foot, as he raises it, to place said gripping device in its inoperative condition,

h. a pair of retainer loops each engaged slidably over one of said standards above the associated gripping device, for free movement therealong, and

i. means for securing each of said retainer loops to the users body comprising a belt loop adapted to be secured about the users. body and nonnally disposed in generally coplanar relation with said retainer loops, with said retainer loops disposed externally of said belt loop, each of said retainer loops being pivotally connected to said belt loop for relative movement on an axis generally radial to both loops.

2. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 wherein said step constitutes a normally horizontal lever pivoted for vertical movement on said gripping device and extending therefrom laterally of said standard and wherein said activating and deactivating means are operable respectively by downward and upward forces applied to said step lever.

3. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 2 wherein said biasing means holds said gripping device in its operative condition with sufficient force to resist deactivation thereof as the user applies an upward force to said step lever by raising his foot to lift the stilt, so long as the user lifts his foot without transverse tilting thereof, but with sufficiently small force that the user may, by tilting his foot transversely as he lifts it, pivot said step lever upwardly to overcome said biasing means and render said gripping device inoperative.

4. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said gripping devices comprises:

a. a pair of confronting elongated channels embracing the associated standard in opposed relation, and each having a liner of a material capable of providing a non-slip engagement with said standard when pressed tightly thereagainst, and

. a pair of links pivotally interconnecting said channels adjacent each corresponding pair of ends thereof, whereby to constitute a parallelogram linkage therewith, said links being inclined acutely to said standards when said channel liners are in engagement with said standard, whereby the pivotal connection of each pair of links to one of said channels is higher than the pivotal connections of the opposite ends ofsaid link pair to the other of said channels, oneof said link pairs being extended from their lower ends in a direction transverse to the axes of their pivotal connections to form the associated step.

5. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a tension spring extending between and interconnecting said channels whereby to urge the channel to which the lower ends of said links are pivoted downwardly with respect to the channel to which the upper ends of said links are pivoted.

6. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for securing the users foot to said step comprises a strap secured to said step, the ends of said strap being adapted to be brought together and secured together above the user's foot, said step and strap thereby forming a toe stall opening in a direction parallel to the axes of said links.

7. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 with the addition of an enlargement secured to theupper end of each of said standards, said enlargement being incapable of passing through its associated retainer loop.

a a: t t s 

1. A pair of stilts comprising: a. a pair of normally vertical standards, b. a gripping device carried by each of said standards for vertical movement thereon, said gripping device having an operative condition wherein it firmly grips said standard to resist movement thereof on said standard, and an inoperative condition wherein it may move freely on said standard, c. a step carried by said gripping device and adapted to support one foot of the user, d. means carried by said step for securing the user''s foot thereto, whereby he may lift said gripping device and standard by raising his foot, e. resilient means biasing said gripping device toward its operative condition to cause it to grip said standard with sufficient force to prevent movement of said standard therethrough when said standard is raised above the ground, f. activating means operable by the user''s weight on said step to place said gripping device in its operative condition, g. de-activating means operable by a predetermined movement of the user''s foot, as he raises it, to place said gripping device in its inoperative condition, h. a pair of retainer loops each engaged slidably over one of said standards above the associated gripping device, for free movement therealong, and i. means for securing each of said retainer loops to the user''s body comprising a belt loop adapted to be secured about the user''s body and normally disposed in generally coplanar relation with said retainer loops, with said retainer loops disposed externally of said belt loop, each of said retainer loops being pivotally connected to said belt loop for relative movement on an axis generally radial to both loops.
 2. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 wherein said step constitutes a normally horizontal lever pivoted for vertical movement on said gripping device and extending therefrom laterally of said standard and wherein said activating and de-activating means are operable respectively by downward and upward forces applied to said step lever.
 3. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 2 wherein said biasing means holds said gripping device in its operative condition with sufficient force to resist deactivation thereof as the user applies an upward force to said step lever by raising his foot to lift the stilt, so long as the user lifts his foot without transverse tilting thereof, but with sufficiently small force that the user may, by tilting his foot transversely as he lifts it, pivot said step lever upwardly to overcome said biasing means and render said gripping device inoperative.
 4. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said gripping devices comprises: a. a pair of confronting elongated channels embracing the associated standard in opposed relation, and each having a liner of a material capable of providing a non-slip engagement with said standard when pressed tightly thereagainst, and b. a pair of links pivotally interconnecting said channels adjacent each corresponding pair of ends thereof, whereby to constitute a parallelogram linkage therewith, said links being inclined acutely to said standards when said channel liners are in engagement with said standard, whereby the pivotal connection of each pair of links to one of said channels is higher than the pivotal connections of the opposite ends of said link pair to the other of said channels, one of said link pairs being extended from their lower ends in a direction transverse to the axes of their pivotal connections to form the associated step.
 5. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a tension spring extending between and interconnecting said channels whereby to urge the channel to which the lower ends of said links are pivoted downwardly with respect to the channel to which the upper ends of said links are pivoted.
 6. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for securing the user''s foot to said step comprises a strap secured to said step, the ends of said strap being adapted to be brought together and secured together above the user''s foot, said step and strap thereby forming a toe stall opening in a direction parallel to the axes of said links.
 7. A pair of stilts as recited in claim 1 with the addition of an enlargement secured to the upper end of each of said standards, said enlargement being incapable of passing through its associated retainer loop. 